SR-22 · Originally published June 16, 2015 · Updated November 2026
Sometimes the first time you hear the term SR-22 is from a judge, a prosecutor or your attorney, often as part of a DWI case, a driving-while-suspended charge or a plea agreement. It can be hard to absorb details in a courtroom. These five points will help you sort out what comes next.
A judge's order and the Missouri Department of Revenue's (DOR) license requirements are related but separate. The court handles your case: fines, probation and any conditions of your sentence. The DOR handles your driving privilege: suspension, revocation, reinstatement and the SR-22 period.
That means you may need to satisfy both. Ask your attorney or the court clerk exactly what proof the court wants, and check your DOR notice for what the state requires. Don't assume one takes care of the other. Our license reinstatement page explains the state side.
You cannot pick up an SR-22 at the courthouse. It is a certificate your insurance company files with the state, attached to an auto policy that meets Missouri minimums of 25/50/25 liability plus uninsured motorist coverage.
Getting started is simple: call an agent, buy a policy, and ask for the SR-22 filing. If the court wants a copy for its file, ask your agent for one.
If your license is suspended, it may seem odd to buy insurance before you can drive. But the SR-22 is often a condition of getting your license back or of qualifying for a Limited Driving Privilege, which generally requires an SR-22 on file. See our Limited Driving Privilege page.
If you do not own a car, a non-owner SR-22 policy can meet the requirement.
There is no single Missouri SR-22 period. The state generally requires proof for two years from the start of the suspension or revocation in points, alcohol-related and accident-judgment cases, and three years from reinstatement eligibility in no-insurance and false-insurance cases. A court order may also set its own conditions for the length of probation. Write down every date you are given and keep them together.
Once the SR-22 is filed, it has to stay active. If your policy cancels, the insurer notifies the state, and that can lead to a new suspension. It may also create problems with your probation if continuous insurance was a condition.
To protect yourself:
Read what happens if an SR-22 lapses for more on avoiding this.
If a judge has ordered an SR-22, call us at 417.865.4800. We can usually set up the policy and filing over the phone and email your proof of insurance. Learn more on our SR-22 insurance page.
No. Only an insurance company can file an SR-22, because it certifies an active policy. Your attorney can help you understand what the court requires.
Not necessarily. Ask your attorney when it is needed, since the SR-22 may be required to reinstate or to qualify for a Limited Driving Privilege.
Or send your details and an agent will call you back. Most auto quotes are finished on one call, and you can buy before you hang up.